Cavs Rumors: LeBron James Wants Cleveland to Pursue Mike Dunleavy

One of the pending free agents the Cleveland Cavaliers could be pursuing once free agency officially gets underway on Wednesday is veteran Mike Dunleavy from the Chicago Bulls.

That information comes from a tweet by ESPN’s Marc Stein, who noted that LeBron James has apparently made that suggestion during his reported daily conversations with Cavaliers general manager David Griffin and his staff. The Cavs’ strained budget should allow them to offer a mini midlevel exception, which would come to slightly over $3 million.

Free agent I’m hearing that LeBron James would love the Cavs to sign: Chicago’s Mike Dunleavy

However, almost immediately after noting that information, Stein tweeted that the Bulls have every intention of signing both Dunleavy and fellow free agent Jimmy Butler.

The 6’9″ Dunleavy, who can play both forward roles as well as shooting guard, will be 35 years old at the start of next season. He’s played the last two of his 13 NBA seasons with the Bulls. Last year, he averaged 9.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game, missing five weeks due to an ankle injury.

During the 2014-15 regular season, Dunleavy’s averages against the Cavaliers were much higher, scoring 14.3 per game, while grabbing 5.7 boards and dishing out 4.3 assists. In the six-game playoff series between Cleveland and Chicago, Dunleavy averaged 11.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists.

About Brad Sullivan

Brad Sullivan is a lead writer for Cavaliers Nation. He has spent much of life in the Cleveland, Ohio area, and has remained a Cavalier fan from their 1970 beginnings through the return of LeBron James. While that fandom was sorely tested during the Reign of Error known simply by one word, Stepien, that overall historical perspective will be part of his writing for Cavaliers Nation in the months ahead.